Toy rocket



A. G. RQTH TOY ROCKET Oct. 3, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1960 F-IG.4

I INVENTOR. ALLE N G. ROTH BY liomaz Manama, My k/uuf ATTORNEYS Oct. 3, 1961 Filed Feb. 8, 1960 A. e. ROTH 3,002,752

TOY ROCKET 4 Sheets-Sheet S5 F-IG.I4

INVENTOR.

ALLEN G. ROTH ATTORNEYS Oct. 3, 1961 A. G. ROTH 3,002,752

TOY ROCKET Filed Feb. 8, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I'- l G. l 5

I INVENTOR. ALLE N G. RO TH WW1 1%, w/a/fiy ATTORNEYS 3,002,752 TOY ROCKET Allen G. Roth, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor of one-half to Lester Matheson, Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation Filed Feb. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 7,434 3 Claims. (Cl. 272-18) The present invention relates to a toy rocket.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a toy rocket of safe, sturdy and inexpensive construction and sufficiently large enough for one or two small children to climb therein. The invention contemplates the pro vision of an enclosure formed in the shape of a rocket and adapted to rest in upright position on a horizontal surface and to give the appearance of a rocket resting on its launching pad prior to flight. After a child enters the enclosure, he may operate a hand crank or motor driven means causing a picture to move across an opening, the moving picture simulating the flight of the rocket by first showing the area in the vicinity of the launching and then showing the world as it would appear from the stratosphere and from outer space.

Related objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

One embodiment of the invention includes a pair of flat vertically extending members which are crossed so as to intersect along a vertical axis. A fiat deck rests upon the members and is retained thereby. Four side panels are interlocked with the deck and extend vertically so as to surround the deck. The above mentioned members project past the side panels in such a manner as to define fins. A flat ceiling is interlocked with the side panels adjacent their upwardly extending ends and a frustoconically shaped nose cone is positioned so as to rest on the ceiling and to project upwardly therefrom.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy rocket embodying the present invention.

. States PatentO FIG. 2 is a front elevation of a side panel making up a portion of the rocket of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of one of a plurality of side panels making up a portion of the rocket of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of one of a pair of fin defining members making up a part of the rocket of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the other of said pair of fin defining members.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fin defining members of FIGS. 4 and 5 showing them in assembled relation.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a flat section of material forming a portion of the rocket.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the material of FIG. 7 folded into a tubular shape of rectangular cross section for incorporation in the rocket.

FIG. 9 is a plan view similar to FIG. 7 of a further flat section of material forming a portion of the rocket.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the material of FIG. 9 showing it folded into a tubular shape of rectangular cross section for incorporation in the rocket.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the members of FIGS. 4-10 showing them in assembled relation.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a deck forming a portion of the rocket.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a section of material forming the nose cone of the rocket, the figure showing the material prior to folding into proper frustoconical shape.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a ceiling member forming a portion of the rocket.

Patented Oct. 3, I961 FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the rocket showing it with a one side panel removed and with portions of the rocket broken away to illustrate the interior of the rocket.

Referring now to the drawings, this invention comprises a toy rocket 10 which is preferably formed almost wholly of corrugated fiberboard. In order to assemble the rocket, a pair of corrugated fiberboard members 11 and 12 (FIGS. 4 and 5) are assembled in perpendicular relation as illustrated in FIG. 6 by interlocking the members 11 and 12 using an upwardly opening axial slot 15 in the member 11 and a downwardly opening axial slot 16 in the member 12. It can be seen that when the members are so interlocked, they intersect at their axes 17. The lower edges 18 and 19 of the members are placed on a horizontal surface so that the members 11 and 12 extend vertically. It can be seen that with the members 11 and 12 so arranged, the upper edges 20 and 21 of the central portions of the intersecting members define a horizontal plane.

Flat pieces of corrugated fiberboard material 25 and 26 are folded into the tubular shapes of FIGS. 8 and 10 and are assembled coaxially with the members 11 and 12 in the position illustrated in FIG. 11, the slots 27 of the tube of FIG. 8 and the slots 31 of the intersecting mem- 'bers 11 and 12 being used to interlock the tube of FIG. 8 with the intersecting members. The tube of'FIG. 10 is caused to interlock with the intersecting members by the use of the slots 31 in the tube and the slots 32 in the intersecting members. It can be seen that when the tubes 25 and 26 are assembled with the intersecting members 11 and 12, that the upper edges 35 and 36 of the tubes are arranged in the horizontal plane defined by the upper edges 20 and 21 of the intersecting members.

Referring to FIG. 12 and to FIG. 15 a corrugated fiberboard deck 39 provides a floor for the cabin 37 of the rocket and is supported by the upper edges of the intersecting members and the tubes. The deck 39 is retained between "the upwardly and inwardly projecting portions 37A of the intersecting members and has four slots 38 which are aligned with those upwardly and inwardly projecting portions for a purpose to be described. It should also be noted that the deck 39' has a generally octagonal shape. The side panels 40 and 41 of FIGS. 2 and 3 are folded along the lines 42-45 and the flaps 46 and 47 thus formed are inserted into the slots 38 in the deck 39. It should be noted that the folds along the lines 43 and 45 will correspond with the corners of the octagonal shape of the deck so that the sidewalls will closely engage the deck all along its periphery. It can be seen that the sidewalls 40 and 41 not only form the longitudinal outer surfaces of the rocket but also partially enclose the members 11 and 12, the tubes and the deck so as to form the walls for the cabin 37. It should be noted that the sidewall 40 is provided with a depending opening flap 48 which provides access to the cabin 37.

The ceiling of the cabin is formed by a corrugated fiberboard member 50 having four slotted flaps 51 extending from the corners thereof. When these flaps are folded downwardly along lines 51A, the ceiling member 50 has an octagonal configuration which corresponds with the positioning of the sidewalls 40 and 41 and thus closely engages the sidewalls near their upper edges. When the ceiling member is assembled in the rocket, the flaps 51 extend downwardly along the sidewalls and the slots 52 engage and interlock with the slots 53 in the sidewalls 40 and 41. It should be noted that the ceiling member 50 is provided with a central aperture 55 through which the curious child may peer to inspect the nose cone 56 which rests upon the ceiling member 50.

Referring to FIG. 13, the nose cone is formed from a flat piece of corrugated fiberboard and is folded along the lines 57 so that the nose cone may assume a generally frustoconical shape, the projections 58 being inserted in the slots 59. The nose cone 56 rests upon the ceiling 50 and is retained thereupon by the upwardly projecting ends 6 of the sidewalls.

Within the cabin 3.7, there is provided a vertically extending control board 61; The control board, has a plurality of buttons 62 and has a pair of openings 63 and 64, behind which are carried movable pictures. These pictures are rolled upon shafts 65 and 66 which are rotatably mounted upon the control board 61 and may be rotated by means of cranks 67 and 6S. 7 For example, the picture 64 might show a continuous view of the world as it would appear during the flight of a rocket away from it, the picture first showing the area in the vicinity of the launching pad and then showing the world as it would appear from the stratosphere and from outer space. If desired, suitable means of illumination might also be provided so that the picture is visible when the opening flap 48 is closed and the child is within the cabin 37. In place of the cranks 67 and 6%, the picture'might be moved by means of a suitable small motor or motors.

From the above description, it will be obvious that the present invention provides a toy rocket of safe, sturdy and inexpensive construction. It can also be seen that the present invention provides a toy which will provide many hours of interesting play for children.

While the invention has been disclosed and described in some detail in the drawings and foregoing description, they are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, as modifications may readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in'this artand within the broad scope of the invention, referencebeinghadto the appended claims. 7

The invention claimed is:

1. A toy rocket comprising a pair of flat vertically extending members, said members being-crossed and intersecting along a vertical axisfa flat deck resting on said members and retained thereby, side panels interlocked with said deck and extending vertically so as to partially enclose said deck, said members projecting past said side panels in such a manner thatsaid members projecting end portions define fins, a flat ceiling interlocked with said side panels adjacent their upwardly extending ends, and a frustoconic'a lly shaped nose resting 4 on said ceiling and projecting upwardly therefrom.

2. .A toy rocket comprising a pair of vertically extending flat members interlocked along a vertical axis, a pair 4 a of tubes of rectangular cross section arranged coaxially of one another and of said interlocked members, a fiat deck resting on said tubes and members and retained by said members, four side panels interlocked with said deck and extending vertically so as to partially enclose said tubes and deck, said members projecting radially past said side panels in such a manner that said members projecting end portions define fins, a fiat ceiling having a central aperture and interlocked with said side panels adjacent their upwardly extending ends, and a frustoconically shaped nose cone having its larger end resting on said ceiling and retained between said side panels.

3. A toy rocket comprising a pair of corrugated fiberboard members interlocked along a vertical axis, said members being flat and each arranged in a vertical plane, said members having upper edges defining a horizontal plane, a pair of corrugated fiberboard tubes of rectangular cross section arranged coaxially of one another and of said corrugated fiberboard members, said tubes being interlocked with said members and having upper edges arranged in said horizontal plane, a corrugated fiberboard deck resting on the upper edges of said members and tubes and retained by said members, four corrugated fiberboard side panels interlocked with said deck and extending vertically so as to partially enclose said tubes and deck, said members projecting radially past said side panels in such a manner that said members projecting end portions define fins, a corrugated fiberboard ceiling having a central aperture and interlocked with said panels adjacent their upwardly extending ends, a frustoconically shaped corrugated fiberboard nose cone having its larger end resting on said ceiling and its smaller end projecting upwardly, said nose cone. being retained between said side panels, said deck, ceiling and side'panels forming a cabin, one of said side panels having a depending opening fiap providing access to said cabin, means located within said icabin defining an opening, a continuous picture mounted for movement past said opening and having a scene thereon so arranged that, when moved, said scene simulates flight of the rocket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 948,177 Lehmann Feb. 1, 1910 2,684,243 Alston July 20, 1954 2,838,871 Boring June 17, 1958 

